It's Just a Frog

A couple weeks ago we were shopping for a birthday present (I'm sure you might remember our pre-party fiasco I blogged about recently) and ran across a $20 kit to raise a tadpole. Being the sucker parents we are, we purchased one for Grayson and were planning to order our "free tadpole" the next day. What we failed to realize was that they do not ship tadpoles when the weather is hot. This meant, no tadpole until November. We had already told Grayson about the tadpole and he seemed excited. Easy fix: visit the local pet shops to find a tadpole.


Lesson #1: Pet stores do not sell tadpoles (unless they accidentally get mixed in with the goldfish?? How that happens I'm not sure)
Lesson#2: Grayson could care less about the tadpole. He is a boy. He wants a frog. Not just any frog. A BIG FROG.
Lesson #3: There are a lot of things you have to do to keep a frog alive in captivity (or so the salesman says)

When we got to petco we found the perfect frog. A fire-bellied toad. Grayson was drawn to him. We talked with one of the salesmen about purchasing a frog and what all we had in our kit. He told us all of the stuff you have to do. Including a weekly run to purchase crickets (yuck). We decided to wait a few days and see if we were really up to adding to the petting zoo.

All week Grayson is asking about getting his frog. Damn. What did we start. So we decide we'll get him the stupid frog. It can't be that bad right? We convince him that he needs to cooperate on our morning errands in order to go get his frog. He even comes up with a name over lunch (dad helped him in this endeavor).

Grayson "We should name him Pito"
Dad " I think Cheeto would be a good name" (think of his orange belly)
Grayson "Well.... Captain Cheeto would work. He is an Avenger" (Of course he is!)

So here we are with a super excited kid who already has plans for his new pet. We go to the store and pick out the frog.

After our discussions about the frog and his size, we opt to purchase the $40 kit they had at Petco that comes with a living space, shredded coconut something or other and moss for the base, vitamins (WTF? For a frog? Even my dogs don't take vitamins), and a vine for him to climb on. We knew we had to buy him a swimming bowl. No big deal. Then as we are talking to the guy we learn that we need a tank heater, UV lighted cover, humidity and temperature gauges. Of course the frog has humidity needs that don't meet human standards. What were we thinking??? His solution to our frequent cricket purchases... buy a cricket keeper and feed hundreds of them at a time with special vitamin enhanced food so they are good for the frog. We veto the cricket farming. Chances of 1 cricket escaping in Grayson's bedroom are high enough. We can't risk an entire colony of them on the loose... our cats are domesticated!

We approach the checkout register feeling good about our purchase. Grayson has his frog in the carrier box and is talking to him "Its okay. We are on the way home. You can get out soon. Don't be scared".... our hearts are smiling he is so happy.

Grand total: $110.
Excuse me? Can you repeat that? We didn't even buy all the stuff he recommended. Ugh. So we buy all the stuff. How can you not at this point? How do you rationalize with a 4 year old that his $6 frog is not worth the $104 worth of stuff he comes with?

Of course... a week later.... we are laughing at ourselves and I firmly believe that Captain Cheeto probably could live without all the extra comforts the salesman suggested, but how do you argue with the amphibian specialist who can probably make the frog live for 10 years. (This last though scares me. I am very convinced that Grayson will lose interest before he turns 14) Captain Cheeto is comfy in his new home. We have to read him books for bedtime and Grayson requests bedtime stories about him. Of course he does....making up stories about a frog who is an Avenger can't be that hard can it? Ha!